Refrigerating apparatus



July 14, 1931. J. G. KING 7 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 50, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 1931. J. G. KING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 30, 1928 gwuewioz 61cm: new

Patented July 14, 1931 uniraosra'r ss PATENT OFFICE- nis'sr. a. me, or DAYTON, 0310, assmnon TO rmornamn con'rona'rron, or DAYTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE nm'menm'rme arrana'rus Application filed May 30, 1928. Serial No. 281,808

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a novel form of refrigerating element for such apparatus.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to pro 5, vide an improved form of refrigerating element having a relatively large amount of effective refrigerating surface within a relatively small volume.

Another object is to provide an improved form otkrefrigerating element which may be operated intermittently and which provides a hold-over furnishing refrigeration in periods of idleness. V

Further objects and advantages of the prescut inventionwill be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown. i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a refrigerating element constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the element partly broken away; I

' Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the element partly broken away; and I h Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a refrigerating cabinet equipped with my improved refrigcrating element.

The refrigerating element includes any suitable number of .spaced, vertically ar ranged chilling plates in the form of hollow thermally conducting fins 10, filled with a liquid circulating medium such as brine or alcohol solution which does not freeze at any temperature within the ordinary operating range. Each fin contains an evaporating chamber for refrigerant, for example, in the form of a conduit 11 passing through the fin and preferably formed in one or more horizontal passages such as indicated at 12 and 13 in Fig. 2.v Volatile refrigerant is circulated through the evaporating conduits in any suitable manner, the preferred method of supplying such refrigerant being indicated best in Fig. 2. Each of the conduits 11 passing through the fins is formed into a loop, both ends of which are connected to a header 20 providing a reservoir for the'liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant is' supplied to the header by a pipe 21, and kept at a'constant level, indicated at 22, by any suitable float control mechanism 23.

The walls of the-fins readily transfer heat from the atmosphere surrounding the refrigerating element to the liquid circulating medium within the fins; The refrigerant ducts provide cold zones which set up convection currents in the warm brine surrounding the ducts. These. 'COIIVGCtlOI]. currents reach all parts of the fins and thus serve to 1 transfer heat from all portions of their surfaces to the refrigerant within the ducts.

The refrigerant is circulated in the ducts in the well-known manner byflowing into the ducts in liquid form by gravity, the liquid displacing the evaporated refrigerant which then collects in the space above the liquid in the header and is removed througha connection 24 by any suitable refrigerating apparatus, not shown. The refrigerant ducts provide horizontal passages substantially throughout the lengthof the fins and thus serve to induce convection currents uniformly throughout the fins. Where the fins are vertically extensive, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is preferable to provide a plurality of horizontal refrigerant ducts in each, in order to divide the fins into a plurality of circulating zones. T'wo zones are represented in Fig. 2

by the portions of the fin above and below the dotted line Z respectfully. Each duct is preferably soldered to one wallof the fin, the other wall being spaced from the duct as indicated in Fig. 3 to facilitate filling the fin with liquid and to provide space for the convection circulation. The fins are held. together in spaced relation both by the loops 11, which are secured. together-by being fastened to the header, and by the braces 25. Filler openings closed by plugs 26 are pro-j vided for filling the fins with liquid.

Fig. 4 shows the improved refrigerating element mounted in a commercial refrigerator cabinet having an exterior wall 30 and l impervious interior lining 31,- the space 32 between the walls being filled with corkboard or similar heat insulating material. A door 33 is provided which may be constructed solid like the walls, or if desired provided with a glazed portion, the glass panels 34 of which afford a view of the inside.

The improved refrigerating element above described is mounted'in a chilling chamber 35 within the refrigerator cabinet, this chill: ing chamber being separated from the rest of the cabinet by a heat insulating wall 36' so arranged as to form upper and lowerlflues 37 for the circulation of air. The refrigers ating element is supported by a hanger sys-' tem composed of braces 38 and hanger bars 39, the latter being'preferabzlly attached to the inside top of the cabinet. t is one of the features of the invention to support therefrigerating element in the cabinet by means of 1ts fins. For this purpose straps 38a pass completely around the finned body of the element and thus simplify the installation and removal of the element. In this manner stresses are avoided, and damage to the soldered joints, e. g. at the points where the loops enter the header is avoided. Such strexes are ordinarily caused by handling during installation, and during use by the weight of the fins which produces strains on the joints'of the apparatus.

A drip board 40 of any suitable type is disposed beneath the refrigerating element and connected with a drain 41 for removing Water when the refrigerating element is being defrosted. This drip board may, if desired, also serve as part of the structure of the chilling chamber 35, suitable provision being made for insuring a correct circulation of chilled air as by spacing the pan from the wall. Hooks 42 and other means such as shelf 43 for supporting meat, etc., form part of the usual structure of the cabinet.

In the operation ofthe refrigerator, warm air enters the chilling compartment through the flue 37 and passes downwardly over the refrigerating element and out through the lower flue 37. The chilled air passes over any meat hanging on the hooks 42' or located otherwise in the body 44 of the refrigerator. The air heated by contact with food in the refrigerator ascends and re-enters the chilling chamber through the upper flue 37 to be ther cooled and re-circulated as before.

It will be appreciated that the cooling element herein described provides a relatively large surface disposed within a relatively small volume, and that due to the convection currents within the fins, all of this surface is effective to absorb heat. Likewise the mass,

' is capable-of absorbing a considerable quanvent-ion as herein disclosed, constitutes a pre ferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

.1. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprisi-n a header forming a reservoir for li uid re rigerant, a plurality of duct loops or circulating refrigerant depending from the header and connected thereto in parallel circuit relation, and a hollow fin surrounding each duct loop, said fins being adapted to contain liquid circulatin medium in intimate thermal association wit the ducts. I

- 2. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising a vertically extensive t ermally conducting hollow fin adapted to contain liquid circulating medium, a pluralitypf horizontal ducts for volatile refrigerant within the fin, said ducts being spaced apart and" dividing the fin vertically into a plurality of convection zones for the liquid circulating medium.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix'my signature.

JESSE G. KING.

tity of heat after evaporation of refrigerant has ceased. This provides a hold over, or

storage of cold which iszefiective to furnishrefrigeration between intermittent periodsof evaporation of refrigerant.

Whilethe form of embodiment of the in- 

